butlincat's blog - a blog...a seeker of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...

butlincat's blog ..a seeker of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...

“As long as justice is postponed we always stand on the verge of these darker nights of social disruption”...so said Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech on March 14, 1968, just three weeks before he was assassinated.

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Drug Wars by Neil Woods and J S Rafaeli, read by Neil Woods.

To know the true story behind a war, ask the people who fought it.

An observation van is running surveillance on a high-level Bradford gangster. Suddenly the van is surrounded by men in balaclavas and tied shut. Out comes the can of petrol. It is set alight and the two cops inside barely escape with their lives. This incident is never reported. The gangsters clearly have informants inside the police and alerting the public would undermine the force. Everyone shrugs it off – with so much money in the drugs game, corruption is part and parcel of the whole deal

From the bestselling author of Good Cop Bad War, Neil Woods, comes the first inside history of Britain’s War on Drugs told by those who were there.

Calling upon the gripping first-hand accounts from those on both sides of the battle – the cops and the gangsters – as well as Neil Wood’s experiences as an undercover drugs detective, Drug Wars will build a complex, authentic and terrifying picture of the reality of the drug war in Britain.

Beginning with the Misuse of Drugs Act in 1971, we watch decades of violence, racial tension, organised crime and a monumental increase in addiction unfold. We see the birth of rave music and dance culture, and yet even more tabloid hysteria. And throughout, we look at the huge numbers of civilians that have fallen victim to Britain’s war on drugs.

Regardless whether you are fully immersed or simply an observer of our drug fuelled culture here in Great Britain, you are affected by the war on drugs. This book takes you on a journey into the reasons why we are fighting in such an uncompromising, relentless and futile battle. The empirical and observational evidence that this book cleverly offers is surely enough for us to attempt to change such absurd draconian measures. I was already against prohibition prior to reading this book; this sentiment reinforced by reading Neil Woods' first book, 'Good Cop, Bad War', 'Drug Wars' has given me a deeper understanding of the origins of the war against drugs, how it changes and adapts and a further incentive to keep lobbying for change. Regardless of your background, experience or attitude towards this subject, it influences your daily life, from the dangers that face our children to the fact that your favourite high street shop has to inflate its prices in order to recompensate for their daily shop lifting tally. Let's hope that the Home Office have a few copies put under their noses. This book should be a catalyst for change.

In this fascinating book the drugs war is seen from the viewpoint of a former undercover cop. Allowing that every sentient being in the universe has its own agenda, mostly justifying itself to itself and third parties, the author achieves a good deal of distance to his subject, in a good sense of distance. An insight in a world that most of us, though far too many of us will never experience.

Despite 30 years with the Met all of it front line including Brixton this book explains what I always suspected about the drug problem. It is well written and very engaging. I couldn't put it down. Well hardly...

An amazing book to read. A real insight to the history behind the war on drugs in the UK. Very powerful and a massive eye opener. Expect your beliefs to be challenged and blown apart! This will leave you asking why?Also make sure you read Good Cop, Bad War from the same authors. Oh and Drugs without the hot air for some real learning.

I raced through this genuine page turner of a book and learned an awful lot as I did so. Frightening without scare stories, this is well researched and a huge broadside at the uninformed who argue against the evidence provided by their own policies.